A curious release, this one. Subjectivity aside, it’s a musky lavender in which Jacques Polge has chosen to emphasise the lemony, herbaceous aspects of Provence’s ubiquitous sachet-filler whilst placing it on a vanillic, caramelised base. He’s injected the requisite ‘couture’ feel by lifting the mix with a hint of aldehydes and he’s maintained a sense of continuity with the other Exclusifs by adding a faint, yet unmistakable iris note. That’s all relatively indisputable.
The effect of the composition is harder to pin down, perhaps because Polge’s overall intentions aren’t as clear as they might have been. Lavender is traditionally considered a male fragrance note, so its presence in a more feminine formula is meant to echo Mademoiselle C’s use of jersey in women’s clothes. Fair enough. But the fragrance doesn’t quite see this concept through: it’s too sickly sweet to make a convincing ‘masculine suitable for women’ and it’s too blunt and crude to function as a fully-fledged, elegant feminine.
Indeed, it’s this lack of subtlety that is Jersey‘s most embarrassing feature. It announces its presence with a disconcerting bark, it overstays its welcome (you have been warned: this stuff is tenacious) and ultimately it fails to call to mind the refinement synonymous with Chanel. It might have worked better coming from a different fragrance house (and with a lighter price tag) but context does matter and this scent’s foghorn aesthetic doesn’t rest easily with the likes of Coromandel, Sycomore and Cuir De Russie. Perhaps there is an effective couture perfume to be made at the site where Caron’s Pour Un Homme and Prada’s Candy cross paths, but I’m pretty sure this isn’t it.
Having said all that, I’d like to give one lucky Persolaise reader a chance to try Monsieur Polge’s effort for themselves, so if you’d like to enter a draw for a sample of Jersey please leave a comment on this post on the subject of masculine perfumes which work well on women. And please be sure to read the terms and conditions too. Good luck.
Persolaise.
Give-Away Draw Terms & Conditions:
i) the draw will be open until 10 pm (UK time) on Thursday 3rd November; ii) the winner will be selected at random and announced on this blog; iii) if the winner has not made contact with me before Thursday 10th November to claim the prize, an alternative winner may be selected; iv) readers from anywhere in the world are eligible to enter; v) by entering the draw, you indicate that you are willing to pay customs charges (if applicable) and that customs regulations in your country permit you to receive an alcohol-based perfume posted from the UK; vi) if the prize is lost in transit, it will not be possible for a replacement to be sent; vii) the address of the winner will not be kept on record, nor will it be passed on to any third parties; viii) I take no responsibility for the composition of the perfume, as regards potential allergens and/or restricted materials.
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despite the dissapointment shown by many, I would like to try it
please, enter me the draw
thanks
I like the cow on that pic. Side note, I know.
I had the chance to test Jersey yesterday as a fragrance friend of mine sent me a sample. Sorry to say but not my cup of java as a fragrance. Not doubting that it is nicely made. It just does not develop on my skin the way the most people describe the development on their skin and for their noses. I get too much lavender for my taste along with a lemony undertone. Thanks for posting this cuz I never found any hint of lemon in all note descriptions on the web. During its lifetime there was neither a hint of vanilla (not the transparent or the sweet one) no musk on my skin. Infact it made a turn into a bit of a "plastic note" and I felt like I want to scrub it off and I want to do it now. The majority of the fragrance lovers I know like the fume and I am sure it will have enough audience in general. It just does not work for me and on me.
Great idea with the draw. Since I already hold a sample please dont include me in the same. Wanted to give my 2scents here
I really like masculines, and despite the overall disappointment in the perfume community, I would still like to try Jersey!
A few of my favorite masculines are Yohji Homme, Carbone de Balmain, Dior Eau Noire, Dior Homme, Terre d'Hermes and Prada Amber Pour Homme Intense. 🙂
Oh dear, your comments bear out most of what I've already heard – so disappointing!
The only masculine I own and wear is Habit Rouge l'Extrait. I adore Caron Pour un Homme but that would be treading on the Other Half's toes…he of the rapidly-diminishing 750ml bottle of the same.
Despite the above, I'd love to be entered in the draw please. Thank you!
I really like the masculine scents. Jersey has consistenly poor reviews althought I'd still like to try it. I'm not too sophisticated, I like Hermes Grapefruit Rose and Patricia de Nicolai's Sologne Cologne. I also like Shiseido's masculine range but I don't know the names
I've tried Jersey already so no need entering me into the draw.
I really liked the opening of the perfume and wished that lavender stuck around for much longer since I didn't care at all for vanilla sweetness that came after. I agree that it stands out from the Exclusifs collection (and not in a positive way).
Two "masculine" perfumes that I like come from the same brand – Thierry Mugler: Cologne and A*Man Pure Havane.
Irina, I'd love to enter you in the draw, but I need you to stick to the rules of the game, so please leave a comment on the subject of masculine perfumes that work well on women. Thanks 🙂
Bettina, I appreciate your insights. I'm sure the lemony note comes from the lavender, which naturally possesses a citric side.
It'll be interesting to see if Jersey is a success.
deeHowe, I know Dior Homme is extremely popular with many women.
You're in the draw.
Fiordiligi, 750 ml of Pour Un Homme?? Wow, that's serious dedication.
And as for wearing Habit Rouge: good choice!
You're in the draw.
Tomatefarcie, I'm not sure anyone who says they wear Hermes can also say they're not sophisticated 😉
You're in the draw.
Undina, you're an A*Men fan, are you? I must admit I could never understand the fuss myself, but it does have a massive following.
Persolaise, I think I'm a Mugler's fan in general, but before this year I didn't pay too much attention to his masculine offerings (Cologne can hardly be considered such, in my opinion). I tried Pure Havane just on a whim and liked it. I bought it as a gift to my vSO (ok, that's what I told myself) but I use it from time to time (he doesn't mind).
"this scent's foghorn aesthetic doesn't rest easily with the likes of Coromandel, Sycomore and Cuir De Russie"
Pretty much sums it up. Would also add No. 22 to that list – all the ones I would buy if money were no object!
Based solely on my personal experience, I've found that Penhaligon's Quercus and Chanel's Egoiste (the original, not Egoiste Platinum) are masculine scents that work well with my personal chemistry. Also, Jo Malone Amber and Lavender (which I believe the company bills as unisex but was created by Jo Malone for her husband as an anniversary present) works really well for me. There's something really clean and fresh about it, and then it settles into a really soft, spicy finish. I also think that Penhaligon's Endymion would work well on a woman as well as a man.
But really, I'm waiting with baited breath for Chanel No. 19 Poudre to be released! 🙂
Geranium Pour Monsieur is what I wear when I feel like I want to feel slightly protected. I could not wear it in Australia – probably because the warm climate renders the mint especially harsh to me – but in the cooler London climate it's like putting on a heavy woollen sweater and I enjoy the weight of it.
I personally don't see a problem with women wearing masculine perfumes! And I don't mean feminine masculines such as Dior Homme or other such floral masculines; I'd like to see a lady wear Brut(!) or Cool Water. They might smell cheap on guys but on a lady, that would be powerful!
Undina, I'd agree that A*Men is certainly one of the most female-friendly masculines out there. I was always partial to B*Men, but it's discontinued now, of course.
Anon, I like No 22 too, except towards the end, when it becomes very soapy.
Madbint, I can see all of your suggestions working very well on women.
You're in the draw.
By the way, I reviewed No 19 Poudre here: http://persolaise.blogspot.com/2011/09/review-no-19-poudre-from-chanel-2011.html
Amelia, GpM for protection, eh? That's an interesting one. I can see how it could have a 'cloaking' effect.
You're in the draw too.
Joshuaang, I have to say that I don't think Cool Water smells particularly cheap, and yes, I could see it making an excellent feminine.
You're in the draw too.
It would be fun to try Jersey even though the reviews I've read haven't been glowing!
I like to wear perfumes intended as masculines more than occasionally, I own FB of Guerlain Vetivier, Terre d'Hermes and Fleur du Male, and I'd really like to try Caron Pour un Homme and Aramis when I get my hands on some.
Oooooh, thank you for the link! I love Chanel No. 19, and I'm so hoping that the new one will be good, not just a 'lighter' version. Or worse, a complete rework that has nothing of the spirit of the original…
This has got me thinking, actually- would the reverse work? Meaning, are there women's fragrances that would work for men? I've heard of men wearing Fracas and Night Scented Stock, but I've not smelled them on a man…I wonder…
I am not a fan of lavender at the best of times, though I do like it in very small doses eg in Ava Luxe No 23. This was quite ghastly "stabby lavender" to adapt a term of Dee's!, and I shall be giving my sample away at my earliest opportunity. I have a lavender-loving friend in Canada, so fingers crossed…
Eva S, I should think Terre and Vetiver must work very well on women.
You're in the draw.
Madbint, you're welcome.
I think the forums at Basenotes are full of guys who quite happily wear 'feminine' scents, especially some of the classic Guerlains like Shalimar, Mitsouko and Nahema.
Vanessa, lavender has got a bad rep in the UK, but I've always been partial to the note myself.
I'm sorry- about the masculines-I love to wear A*Man havanna ( stealing from my husband) as well as Hermes Terre
I'm eyeing Bel Ami too…
thanks again
Irina, thanks very much. I like your choice of Terre. I think almost all of Ellena's modern creations are pretty unisex.
You're in the draw.
I don't mean cheap as in "it's bad quality" but cheap as in it's so overused by men because it's actually a cheap fragrance! 🙂
Joshuaang, ok, I see. Yes, Cool Water is very reasonably priced, but I also think it's very good. I wore it for ages when I was younger.
Masculine perfumes that work well on women… I personally love JPG's Le Male and have worn that often. I also enjoy wearing most of the Jon Varvatos line – particularly Artisan and Vintage!
Susan, I could see Le Male working fairly well; many fougeres do.
You're in the draw.
*** THE DRAW IS NOW CLOSED. ***
Many thanks for your entries. The winner has just been announced on http://www.persolaise.com
[…] at Now Smell This read Gaia’s review and adds, “I’m afraid she is being too kind.” Persolaise, a new-to-me blogger says that Jersey “is a scent towards which I find it very difficult to be […]